Thirty-five years ago, Estonia restored its independence. This August, Estonians across Australia are raising glasses, sharing meals, singing, talking and celebrating the magnificent fact that Estonia is free.
Let’s remember what happened 35 years ago, before freedom. On 20 August 1991, Estonia’s Supreme Soviet adopted the resolution restoring the independence of the Republic of Estonia. It was the culmination of years of peaceful resistance and growing national confidence — the phosphorite protests, the Singing Revolution, the Baltic Way and a remarkable period when songs, flags, political courage and a great many determined Estonians helped change the course of history.
And the final hours were hardly uneventful. A coup attempt was underway in Moscow, Soviet troops and armoured vehicles had been sent into Estonia and tanks were moving through Tallinn. Against that backdrop, Estonia’s political leaders reached agreement that the Republic of Estonia would be restored on the principle of legal continuity — the same republic established in 1918, not a newly created state. The resolution was adopted at 11.02 pm on 20 August.
The following morning, Soviet troops occupied Tallinn’s TV Tower. By the afternoon, however, the coup in Moscow had collapsed and the troops withdrew. Iceland was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the restored Republic of Estonia, the Soviet Union formally recognised Estonia’s independence on 6 September, and Estonia joined the United Nations on 17 September.
Thirty-five years later, 20 August is considerably less nerve-racking. Which seems an excellent reason to celebrate.
Celebrations across Australia
From coffee and cake in Perth to a Baltic concert in Adelaide, dinner in Melbourne and a good old-fashioned let’s sit around a table and talk about what being Estonian actually means in Brisbane, communities around Australia are marking the anniversary in their own way.
WOLLONGONG – Restoration Day Celebration Lunch
📅 Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026, 12.00 pm
📍 Location: The German Club Wollongong, 636A Northcliffe Drive, Kembla Grange NSW, 2526
💵 Free entry, no RSVP required
Wollongong Estonian Society is getting celebrations underway with a Restoration Day lunch at the German Club.
Come along, catch up with the local Estonian community and raise a glass to 35 years of restored independence.
PERTH – Restoration of Estonian Independence Celebration
📅 Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026, 3.00 pm
📍 Location: Estonian Consulate in Western Australia, 11 Langsford Street, Claremont WA 6010
💵 Free entry, no RSVP required
The West Australian Estonian community is invited to celebrate the 35th anniversary with coffee, cake and good company at the Estonian Consulate.
The event is co-hosted with EstWest and everyone is welcome.
ADELAIDE – Baltic Way Freedom Concert 2026
📅 Date: Sunday, 16 August 2026, 2.00 pm
📍 Location: Estonian House, 200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
🎟 Tickets: $10 adults, free for children under 18
Adelaide is making it a Baltic affair. The Baltic Way Freedom Concert brings together Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian performers to celebrate the restoration of independence across the three Baltic countries in 1990–91.
The bar will be open, finger food follows the concert and — given the history of the Baltic independence movements — celebrating together seems particularly appropriate.
CANBERRA – Restoration of Independence Day Celebration
📅 Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026, 7.00 pm
📍 Location: Polish White Eagle Club, 38 David Street, Turner ACT 2612
💵 Free entry, no RSVP required
There will be a celebratory gathering at the Polish White Eagle Club in Turner for Estonian Restoration of Independence Day in addition to the anniversary of the Baltic Way.
Community members are invited to come along from 7 pm to raise a glass in honour of these landmark events. Meals are available for those wishing to stay on for dinner afterwards.
MELBOURNE – Restoration of Estonian Independence Dinner
📅 Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026, 6.00 pm
📍 Location: OTAKOÏ Ukrainian Restaurant, 34 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181
🎟 Tickets: $90 members of Estonian Society in Melbourne; $100 non-members.
Melbourne is celebrating Estonia’s freedom with an evening bringing Estonian and Ukrainian hospitality together. The specially curated dinner includes shared entrées, Ukrainian varenyky (dumplings), a choice of main course — including traditional Estonian verivorst (blood sausage) — honey cake and a little trivia along the way. After dinner, celebrations can continue upstairs at OHTAK Bar.
Members, families, friends and supporters of the Estonian community are all welcome.
And yes, celebrating Estonian independence with verivorst and honey cake is a fun, new tradition.
BRISBANE – Anniversary Party: 35 Years of Restored Independence
📅 Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026, 1.30 pm
📍 Location: Latvian House, 24 Church Avenue, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
🎟 Free entry, no RSVP required
Brisbane Estonian Society is doing something a little different this year — inviting people to sit down and talk. Over snacks and coffee, community members can share their experiences and ponder some deceptively big questions:
* What does it mean to be Estonian in Australia? Can we take Estonia’s independence for granted?
* And are Australia and Estonia becoming closer?
The bar will also be open — presumably in case the geopolitical discussion requires additional assistance.
Visitors can also explore and borrow from the society’s growing collection of Estonian-language books for adults and children.
SYDNEY – Estonia’s 35th Re-independence Day
📅 Date: Sunday, 23 August 2026, 1.00 pm
📍 Location: Sydney Estonian House, 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
🎟 Tickets: Free for Estonian Society of Sydney members with pre-registration, $5 for non-members
Estonian Society of Sydney invites the community to spend Sunday afternoon celebrating Estonian freedom with good company, Estonian flavours and a special program.
Everyone is welcome — because independence is rather more fun when celebrated together.
For some Australian Estonians, 20 August 1991 is something they remember. Others grew up hearing about it. Some were not yet born.
And for younger generations, an independent Estonia — blue-black-white flag flying over Tallinn, Estonian spoken freely, borders open and Estonia firmly on the world map — has simply always existed. That might be the greatest achievement of all.
But freedom becoming ordinary does not make it less precious. So this August, find your nearest gathering. Have the coffee. Eat the cake. Sing the songs. Debate Estonia’s future. Order the verivorst. Raise a glass.
Thirty-five years ago, Estonia became free again. That is definitely worth celebrating.
Read more
For anyone who would like to explore the story behind 20 August and Estonia’s path back to independence, here are a couple of interesting resources.
Estonia celebrates the restoration of independence (in English)
Riigikogu – Taasiseseisvumine (in Estonian)
Thank you
Thank you to Kristi Barrow for her very helpful research and input into this article!
